Transducer/sensor assembly

ABSTRACT

An imaging transducer assembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system, forming a transducer/sensor assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a coil proximally coupled with the imaging transducer. A cable having first and second wires are proximally coupled to the coil. A non-conductive potting layer is wrapped around the coil. Traces are formed in the non-conductive potting layer that are used to electrically couple the imaging transducer with the first and second wires of the cable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/098,239 filed Apr. 29, 2011 which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/689,767, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,081,filed on Oct. 20, 2003, both of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to medical imaging systems, and moreparticularly to an improved transducer/sensor assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intraluminal, intracavity, intravascular, and intracardiac treatmentsand diagnosis of medical conditions utilizing minimally invasiveprocedures are effective tools in many areas of medical practice. Theseprocedures are typically performed using imaging and treatment cathetersthat are inserted percutaneously into the body and into an accessiblevessel of the vascular system at a site remote from the vessel or organto be diagnosed and/or treated, such as the femoral artery. The catheteris then advanced through the vessels of the vascular system to theregion of the body to be treated. The catheter may be equipped with animaging device, typically an ultrasound imaging device, which is used tolocate and diagnose a diseased portion of the body, such as a stenosedregion of an artery. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,035, issued toHamm et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, describes a catheter having an intravascular ultrasoundimaging transducer.

Further, the catheter may also be equipped with a sensor adapted tocommunicate with a medical positioning system. For example, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/401,901, entitled “An Improved ImagingTransducer Assembly,” filed on Mar. 28, 2003, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a catheter having asensor adapted to communicated with a medical positioning system coupledwith an imaging transducer, forming a transducer/sensor assembly.

The transducer/sensor assembly is generally a rigid structure; however,the vessels through which the assembly is typically advanced are oftentortuous, which create tight radii within the catheter. Thus, it isdesirable to have the rigid portions, such as the transducer/sensorassembly, of the catheter be relatively small in length.

Accordingly, an alternative transducer/sensor assembly may be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improved imaging device may be used within a lumen of the humanbody, e.g., inside a blood vessel. Generally, the imaging transducerassembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system,forming a transducer/sensor assembly.

One example embodiment is described here. In this embodiment, the sensorincludes a coil proximally coupled with the imaging transducer. A cablehaving first and second wires are proximally coupled to the coil. Anon-conductive potting layer is wrapped around the coil. Traces areformed in the non-conductive potting layer that are used to electricallycouple the imaging transducer with the first and second wires of thecable.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will beor will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following figures and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features and advantages be includedwithin this description, be within the scope of the invention, and beprotected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantagesand objects of the inventions are obtained, a more particulardescription of the invention briefly described above will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It should be noted that the components in thefigures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures,like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views. However, like parts do not always have like referencenumerals. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts,where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may beillustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.

FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional side view of a transducer/sensor assemblyin accordance with an example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 b is a cross-sectional view of a coaxial cable within thetransducer/sensor assembly of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 c is a top view of the transducer/sensor assembly of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 d is a simplified diagram of an electrical circuit formed by thetransducer/sensor assembly of FIG. 1 a; and

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a catheter inaccordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Described below is a catheter having an imaging transducer coupled witha sensor adapted to communicate with a medical positioning system,forming a transducer/sensor assembly.

Turning to FIG. 1 a, a cross-sectional side view of a transducer/sensorassembly 100 is shown in a lumen 105 of the distal portion of aguidewire or catheter assembly (partially shown) having an outer tubularwall or sheath 101. The distal end of the transducer/sensor assembly 100includes an imaging transducer 165. The imaging transducer 165 includesan electrically conductive backing material 190, having a top, bottomand center, which may be formed from an acoustically absorbent material(for example, an epoxy substrate having tungsten particles or silverparticles). The top of the backing material 190 is coupled to the bottomof a layer of piezoelectric crystal (PZT) 180. The top of the PZT layer180 is coupled to a conductive acoustic lens 170, which may includesilver epoxy.

The transducer/sensor assembly 100 further includes a sensor 220 adaptedto communicate with a medical positioning system. The sensor 220includes an antenna portion, where the antenna transmitselectro-magnetic signals to be received by an external receiver, (e.g.,active transmission) or the antenna is otherwise detectable (e.g.,passive) by an external receiver. The antenna portion includes aconductive wire wound into a first coil shape 225. The coil 225 may alsohave magnetic qualities. The sensor coil 225 is proximally coupled tothe imaging transducer 165 via a non-conductive potting material 250.The potting material 250 may include parylene epoxy, or shrink tube. Thesensor coil 225 is configured to send and/or receive electro-magneticsignals to and/or from transmitter/receiver nodes (not shown)surrounding a patient's body (not shown). Thus, as can be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art, it is preferable that the sensor coil225 be configured to generate a sufficient magnetic flux density suchthat an effective sensor area is maintained to facilitate the sendingand/or receiving of electro-magnetic signals.

The transducer/sensor assembly 100 is a rigid structure. As mentionedabove, because the assembly 100 may travel through tortuous vessels, itmay be preferable for the transducer/sensor assembly 100 to have a shortlength. One approach to reduce the length of the transducer/sensorassembly 100 is to reduce the length, l, of the sensor coil 225.However, if the sensor coil 225 length is reduced, the magnetic fluxdensity may also be reduced. To compensate for this effect, the wire ofthe sensor coil 225 may be tightly wrapped around a solid magnetic core230 of high magnetic permeability. The core 230 may alternatively be anon-magnetic core, such as “hi-mu 80” or a ferrite core. Thisconfiguration of the sensor coil 225 will increase the magnetic fluxdensity of the sensor coil 225. Thus, the effective sensor area of thecoil 225 may be maintained without having to increase the length, l, ofthe coil 225. With this configuration, the length of thetransducer/sensor assembly 100 may be limited to preferably around 3millimeters.

This configuration of the sensor coil 225 may also serve as a housing toreinforce the transducer/sensor assembly 100. The wire of the coil 225is preferably copper and approximately 10 microns in diameter. The smalldiameter of the wire allows the sensor coil 225 to have a small impacton the dimensions of the transducer/sensor assembly 100, thus allowingthe transducer/sensor assembly 100 to still work within the lumen 105 ofthe guidewire or catheter assembly. Because the lumen 105 is typicallyfilled with a sonolucent liquid, such as saline, it is preferable toelectrically isolate the sensor coil 225 from the lumen 105, thussubstantially preventing potential signal noise. To achieve thiselectrical isolation, a thin layer of non-conductive potting material255, such as non-conductive epoxy, or conformal coating such as paryleneis applied over the sensor coil 225.

The transducer/sensor assembly 100 further includes a coaxial cable 110,having a center conductor wire 120, and an outer shield wire 130, asshown in FIG. 1 b. The center conductor wire 120 is insulated from theouter shield wire 130. In addition, the shield wire 130 is surrounded byan insulating jacket 140. It should be noted that numerous alternativecable configurations may be used; for example, a cable having “shieldedtwisted pair” or “triaxial” wires may be used instead of a coaxial cable110.

Turning back to FIG. 1 a, surrounding the coaxial cable 110 is a driveshaft 210, which is a conductive wire wound around the coaxial cable 110to form a second coil shape. Preferably, the conductive wire isstainless and has a diameter of approximately 500 microns. Because ofthe insulating jacket 140, the coaxial cable 110 is conductivelyinsulated from the drive shaft 210. The drive shaft 210 and coaxialcable 110 are proximately coupled to the sensor coil 225.

Both the sensor coil 225 and the imaging transducer 165 transmit/receivepower from the coaxial cable 110. The sensor coil 225 has a firstterminal 265 and a second terminal 260. One of the center conductor wire120 and the outer shield wire 130 of the coaxial cable 110 is coupledwith one of the first 265 and second 260 terminals of the sensor coil225 via electrically conductive epoxy, such as silver-filled epoxy.Further, the other of the center conductor wire 120 and the outer shieldwire 130 of the coaxial cable 110 is coupled with the other of the first265 and second 260 terminals of the sensor coil 225 also viaelectrically conductive epoxy, such as silver-filled epoxy.

Because the sensor coil 225 is wrapped tightly around a solid core 230,the coaxial cable 110 cannot be directly coupled with the imagingtransducer 165. To electrically couple the coaxial cable 110 with theimaging transducer 165, shallow, wide trace conductors 270 may be formedin the non-conductive potting material 255 surrounding the sensor coil225, as shown in FIG. 1 c, which shows a top view of thetransducer/sensor assembly 100. As can be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art, these trace conductors 270 may be formed in thepotting material 255 using similar methods to forming traces on flexiblecircuit boards. For example, the trace conductors 270 may be painted inthe potting material 255 using a conductive pen. Accordingly, one of thecenter conductor wire 120 and the outer shield wire 130 of the coaxialcable 110 is coupled with one of the trace conductors 270 viaelectrically conductive epoxy, such as silver-filled epoxy. Likewise,the other of the center conductor wire 120 and the outer shield wire 130of the coaxial cable 110 is coupled with the other of trace conductors270 via electrically conductive epoxy. It may be preferable toelectrically isolate the trace conductors 270 from the lumen 105, thus,a non-conductive epoxy seal (not shown) or conformal coating, such asparylene may be applied over the trace conductors 270.

Alternatively, an additional insulated ultra-fine magnet wire (notshown), such as 58 g, may be used to create the electrical path acrossthe sensor coil 225. The wire could be passed over or under the sensorcoil 225 since its diameter is around 0.0005″(12.50 microns). Thisconfiguration may reduce the need for an additional insulating layerbecause the wire has its own insulating layer.

To electrically couple the imaging transducer 165 to the coaxial cable110, one of the trace conductors 270 is coupled to one of the conductiveacoustic lens 170 and the conductive backing material 190 via conductiveepoxy formed within the potting material 250 between the sensor coil 225and the imaging transducer 165. Further, the other trace conductor 270is coupled to the other of the conductive acoustic lens 170 and theconductive backing material 190 via conductive epoxy formed within thepotting material 250.

During the operation of the transducer/sensor assembly 100, the PZTcrystal 180 is electrically excited by both the backing material 190 andthe acoustic lens 170 both charged via the coaxial cable 110 and traceconductors 270. In addition, the sensor coil 225 may also be charged viathe coaxial cable 110. If the sensor 220 is configured to sendelectromagnetic signals to nodes of a medical positioning system (notshown), then the charge may facilitate a broadcast. However, if thesensor 220 is configured to receive electromagnetic signals from one ormore nodes of a medical positioning system (not shown), then separatecircuitry including a signal processor, or proper timing to coincidewith the “listen time’” of the transducer 165, may be used to filter andextract the desired electromagnetic signals. Thus, turning to FIG. 1 d,the assembly 100 is depicted as a simplified electric circuit having avoltage source 530, the load of the PZT layer 180, the load of thesensor coil 225, which is in parallel with the load of the PZT layer180, sensor circuitry 531, which may include a signal processor (notshown) to receive and process electromagnetic signals, i.e.,navigational signals, from the sensor 220, as would be known to a personof skill in the art, transducer circuitry 532, which may also include asignal processor (not shown) to process imaging signals from the imagingtransducer, and terminals A and B. Terminals A and B represent thecenter conductor wire 120 and the shield wire 130 of the coaxial cable110, respectively. Other features and circuits may also be added asdesired.

Turning to FIG. 2, the transducer/sensor assembly 100 may be placed in adistal portion 520 of a guidewire 500. The guidewire 500 may comprise aguidewire body 302 in the form of a flexible, elongate tubular member,having an outer wall 101. The guidewire body 302 may be formed of anymaterial known in the art including nitinol hypotube, metal alloys,composite materials, plastics, braided polyimide, polyethylene, peekbraids, stainless steel, or other superelastic materials.

The length of the guidewire 500 may vary depending on the application.In a preferred embodiment, the length of the guidewire 500 is between 30cm and 300 cm. A catheter (not shown) may be configured to use severaldifferent diameters of guidewires 500. For example, the guidewire 500may have a diameter of 0.010, 0.014, 0.018, or 0.035 inches. Typically,the diameter of the guidewire 500 is uniform.

A proximal portion 510 of the guidewire 500 may be adapted to connect tocircuitry (not shown) that processes imaging signals from the imagingtransducer and/or, circuitry (not shown) that processes navigationalsignals from the sensor 320, such circuits being well known.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evidentthat various modifications and changes may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering andcombination of process actions described herein is merely illustrative,and the invention can be performed using different or additional processactions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. Forexample, this invention is particularly suited for applicationsinvolving medical imaging devices, but can be used on any designinvolving imaging devices in general. As a further example, each featureof one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown inother embodiments. Additionally and obviously, features may be added orsubtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to berestricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

1. An imaging catheter, comprising: a sheath defining a lumen; and animaging assemble disposable within the lumen of the sheath andcomprising an imaging device, an antenna coil positioned proximal to theimaging device, a solid, non-conductive material disposed over at leasta portion of the antenna coil and coupling the antenna coil to theimaging transducer, and one or more traces formed over the antenna coiland disposed in the solid, non-conductive material, wherein the one ormore traces are configured to electrically couple the imaging device toan energy source.
 2. The imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprisinga solid magnetic core around which the antenna coil is wrapped.
 3. Theimaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising a first wire and asecond wire that are electrically coupled to the antenna coil, whereinthe one or more traces are also electrically coupled with the first wireand the second wire.
 4. The imaging catheter of claim 3, wherein thefirst and second wires are configured as a coaxial cable having an innercable and an outer cable.
 5. The imaging catheter of claim 3, whereinthe first and second wires are configured as a shielded, twisted pair.6. The imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising a driveshaftdisposed in the lumen of the sheath, wherein the imaging assembly iscoupled to the driveshaft.
 7. The imaging catheter of claim 1, whereinthe imaging device comprises an imaging transducer.
 8. The imagingcatheter of claim 7, wherein the imaging transducer comprises apiezoelectric crystal, an acoustic lens coupled to the piezoelectriccrystal, and a backing material coupled to the piezoelectric crystal. 9.The imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the imaging transducer operateselectrically in parallel with the antenna coil.
 10. The imaging catheterof claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive seal disposed over theone or more traces.
 11. A medical imaging system comprising: a medicalpositioning system; and the imaging catheter of claim
 1. 12. A method ofimaging within a body of a patient, the method comprising: inserting theimaging catheter of claim 1 into the body of the patient; operating theimaging device of the imaging catheter to obtain an image of a portionof the body of the patient; and communicating between the antenna coilof the imaging catheter and an external medical positioning system todetermine a position of the imaging assembly within the body of thepatient.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein inserting the imagingcatheter comprises inserting the imaging catheter into a blood vessel ofthe patient.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating betweenthe antenna coil of the imaging catheter and the external medicalpositioning system comprises sending an electromagnetic signal from theantenna coil to at least one node of the medical positioning system. 15.The method of claim 12, wherein communicating between the antenna coilof the imaging catheter and the external medical positioning systemcomprises receiving an electromagnetic signal from the medicalpositioning system at the antenna coil.
 16. A method of making animaging assembly, the method comprising: coupling a sensor to an imagingtransducer; disposing a solid, non-conductive material over the sensor;forming at least one trace conductor in the solid, non-conductivematerial; and electrically coupling the at least one trace conductor tothe imaging transducer.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein forming atleast one trace conductor comprises painting the at least one traceconductor onto the solid, non-conductive material using a conductivepen.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling the atleast one trace conductor to a coaxial cable.
 19. The method of claim16, further comprising disposing a non-conductive coating over the atleast one trace conductor.
 20. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising wrapping the antenna coil around a solid magnetic core.